Washington D.C. bourbon help?

I'm heading to DC later this week for business. I'm staying up near Dupont Circle and wondered if there were any stores or places I needed to hit. Any recommendations? If I have any free time I might go exploring. I'm not necessarily a "dusty" hunter, but since where I live doesn't get too much of a wide variety I always try to look for good stuff when I travel.
I've looked into some restaurants and bars, looks like Jack Rose is legit. Anyone been to Bourbon in Adams Morgan or Logan Circle?

Also, anyone have any good tips to secure bottles in airline checked luggage? Never done that before...ha!
Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Re: Washington D.C. bourbon help?

The Jack Rose is the best bet. Bourbon is a good place, too, but their selection is limited compared to the JR. They have most of everything that I have coveted on this board. I have had Old Fitz distilled in the 60's there (it's on the bourbon menu!), and regularly sip ER 101 there, a bourbon you haven't been able to buy for years. The Jack Rose is right by Bourbon in Adams Morgan.

Schneider's of Capitol Hill has a couple nice private bottlings of Jefferson's Reserve, Four Roses Single Barrel, and Elmer T. Lee, which I have loved. Last week, their stock was fairly low, and they had run out of Elmer, but they're a good shop. The liquor stores in Montgomery County, to the NW of the city have some of the best prices on bourbon in the country, even besting Kentucky. They are all county-run stores, so the prices are all the same, but the selection varies. Check out their weekly and monthly specials on the website to see if it's worth the trip.

Re: Washington D.C. bourbon help?

If you decide to go dusty hunting, I can 100% guarantee you will find Old charter 7 yr and most likely 8 yr. the city had been hunted very hard in the last few years and OC is all that is really left.. And some random 80 proofers..

Re: Washington D.C. bourbon help?

Was there for work a month or so ago.

Bourbon's selection was plenty good for me - I had ER 10/101 and PHC Wheated Mashbill (They had every year of PHC).

Another place we went was The Passenger - kind of a dive bar looking place next to the convention center (hipster faux dive bar, not true dive bar, obviously). The bourbon selection was decent, but my friend and I asked for a pour and i swear the bartender gave us each four ounces. It was the most generous pour I've seen at a bar in years. Needless to say we came back for more.

Re: Washington D.C. bourbon help?

Jack Rose is good, but no longer a top tier "must see." I used to be able to get Weller Centennial pours there. The last time I went, (6 months ago) the first 3 bourbons I ordered off the menu were not available (I think one was the 60s Old Fitz). They still have a good selection that most of the country don't see regularly, but most of the "great" bottles are gone. It is a nice bar setting and has much more availability than either of the Bourbon locations. Basically, it is still a great bar, but no longer the best.

Re: Washington D.C. bourbon help?

Haven't been in a while but I have found the occasional unusual bottle at ACE Beverage (3301 New Mexico Ave, NW) when passing through DC. Nothing specific but they seem to have a decent inventory with an occasional interesting stray bottle to be had.

That yella whiskey runnin' down my throat like honey dew vine water and I took another slash…

Re: Washington D.C. bourbon help?

Originally Posted by WsmataU

Jack Rose is good, but no longer a top tier "must see." I used to be able to get Weller Centennial pours there. The last time I went, (6 months ago) the first 3 bourbons I ordered off the menu were not available (I think one was the 60s Old Fitz). They still have a good selection that most of the country don't see regularly, but most of the "great" bottles are gone. It is a nice bar setting and has much more availability than either of the Bourbon locations. Basically, it is still a great bar, but no longer the best.

Not to start a war here, but do you know of another bar in DC that has ER 101, DSP-16 Old Fitz, etc? The Jack Rose still is the best place to go in DC. I get depressed when I go to Bourbon and half of their bottles on the wall are empties.

Re: Washington D.C. bourbon help?

Originally Posted by dmarkle

Not to start a war here, but do you know of another bar in DC that has ER 101, DSP-16 Old Fitz, etc? The Jack Rose still is the best place to go in DC. I get depressed when I go to Bourbon and half of their bottles on the wall are empties.

No, I don't disagree with what you wrote, but I haven't had much luck (recently) at finding gems at JR either. It still is the best in DC. I gave up on Bourbon years ago. The advantage to having them around is figuring out what I really like and focusing my efforts on those bottles.

If someone is primarily looking for variety, either bar should fit the bill.